diff --git a/src/instance/attributes.js b/src/instance/attributes.js
index 57bee66eda..7d63567010 100644
--- a/src/instance/attributes.js
+++ b/src/instance/attributes.js
@@ -1,87 +1,94 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2013 The Polymer Authors. All rights reserved.
- * Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
- * license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
- */
-(function(scope) {
-
-  // magic words
-
-  var PUBLISHED = '__published';
-  var INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES = '__instance_attributes';
-
-  // instance api for attributes
-
-  var attributes = {
-    PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED,
-    INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES: INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES,
-    copyInstanceAttributes: function () {
-      var a$ = this[INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES];
-      for (var k in a$) {
-        this.setAttribute(k, a$[k]);
-      }
-    },
-    // for each attribute on this, deserialize value to property as needed
-    takeAttributes: function() {
-      for (var i=0, a$=this.attributes, l=a$.length, a; (a=a$[i]) && i<l; i++) {
-        this.attributeToProperty(a.name, a.value);
-      }
-    },
-    // if attribute 'name' is mapped to a property, deserialize
-    // 'value' into that property
-    attributeToProperty: function(name, value) {
-      // try to match this attribute to a property (attributes are
-      // all lower-case, so this is case-insensitive search)
-      var name = this.propertyForAttribute(name);
-      if (name) {
-        // filter out 'mustached' values, these are to be
-        // replaced with bound-data and are not yet values
-        // themselves
-        if (value.search(scope.bindPattern) >= 0) {
-          return;
-        }
-        // get original value
-        var defaultValue = this[name];
-        // deserialize Boolean or Number values from attribute
-        var value = this.deserializeValue(value, defaultValue);
-        // only act if the value has changed
-        if (value !== defaultValue) {
-          // install new value (has side-effects)
-          this[name] = value;
-        }
-      }
-    },
-    // return the published property matching name, or undefined
-    propertyForAttribute: function(name) {
-      // matchable properties must be published
-      var properties = Object.keys(this[PUBLISHED]);
-      // search for a matchable property
-      return properties[properties.map(lowerCase).indexOf(name.toLowerCase())];
-    },
-    // convert representation of 'stringValue' based on type of 'defaultValue'
-    deserializeValue: function(stringValue, defaultValue) {
-      return scope.deserializeValue(stringValue, defaultValue);
-    },
-    serializeValue: function(value) {
-      if (typeof value != 'object' && value !== undefined) {
-        return value;
-      }
-    },
-    propertyToAttribute: function(name) {
-      if (Object.keys(this[PUBLISHED]).indexOf(name) >= 0) {
-        var serializedValue = this.serializeValue(this[name]);
-        if (serializedValue !== undefined) {
-          this.setAttribute(name, serializedValue);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  };
-
-  var lowerCase = String.prototype.toLowerCase.call.bind(
-      String.prototype.toLowerCase);
-
-  // exports
-
-  scope.api.instance.attributes = attributes;
-  
-})(Polymer);
+/*
+ * Copyright 2013 The Polymer Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+ * license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+ */
+(function(scope) {
+
+  // magic words
+
+  var PUBLISHED = '__published';
+  var INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES = '__instance_attributes';
+
+  // instance api for attributes
+
+  var attributes = {
+    PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED,
+    INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES: INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES,
+    copyInstanceAttributes: function () {
+      var a$ = this[INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES];
+      for (var k in a$) {
+        this.setAttribute(k, a$[k]);
+      }
+    },
+    // for each attribute on this, deserialize value to property as needed
+    takeAttributes: function() {
+      for (var i=0, a$=this.attributes, l=a$.length, a; (a=a$[i]) && i<l; i++) {
+        this.attributeToProperty(a.name, a.value);
+      }
+    },
+    // if attribute 'name' is mapped to a property, deserialize
+    // 'value' into that property
+    attributeToProperty: function(name, value) {
+      // try to match this attribute to a property (attributes are
+      // all lower-case, so this is case-insensitive search)
+      var name = this.propertyForAttribute(name);
+      if (name) {
+        // filter out 'mustached' values, these are to be
+        // replaced with bound-data and are not yet values
+        // themselves
+        if (value && value.search(scope.bindPattern) >= 0) {
+          return;
+        }
+        // get original value
+        var defaultValue = this[name];
+        // deserialize Boolean or Number values from attribute
+        var value = this.deserializeValue(value, defaultValue);
+        // only act if the value has changed
+        if (value !== defaultValue) {
+          // install new value (has side-effects)
+          this[name] = value;
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    // return the published property matching name, or undefined
+    propertyForAttribute: function(name) {
+      // matchable properties must be published
+      var properties = Object.keys(this[PUBLISHED]);
+      // search for a matchable property
+      return properties[properties.map(lowerCase).indexOf(name.toLowerCase())];
+    },
+    // convert representation of 'stringValue' based on type of 'defaultValue'
+    deserializeValue: function(stringValue, defaultValue) {
+      return scope.deserializeValue(stringValue, defaultValue);
+    },
+    serializeValue: function(value) {
+      if (typeof value != 'object' && value !== undefined) {
+        return value;
+      }
+    },
+    propertyToAttribute: function(name) {
+      if (Object.keys(this[PUBLISHED]).indexOf(name) >= 0) {
+        var serializedValue = this.serializeValue(this[name]);
+        // boolean properties must reflect as boolean attributes
+        if (typeof this.__proto__[name] === 'boolean') {
+          if (serializedValue) {
+            this.setAttribute(name, '');
+          } else {
+            this.removeAttribute(name);
+          }
+        } else if (serializedValue !== undefined) {
+          this.setAttribute(name, serializedValue);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
+  var lowerCase = String.prototype.toLowerCase.call.bind(
+    String.prototype.toLowerCase);
+
+  // exports
+
+  scope.api.instance.attributes = attributes;
+  
+})(Polymer);
diff --git a/src/instance/mdv.js b/src/instance/mdv.js
index 01b76552dd..96c55e84ab 100644
--- a/src/instance/mdv.js
+++ b/src/instance/mdv.js
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
         var observer = this.bindProperty(property, model, path);
         // stick path on observer so it's available via this.bindings
         observer.path = path;
+        // reflect bound property to attribute when binding
+        // to ensure binding is not left on attribute if property
+        // does not update due to not changing.
+        this.propertyToAttribute(name);
         return this.bindings[name] = observer;
       } else {
         return this.super(arguments);
diff --git a/test/html/prop-attr-reflection.html b/test/html/prop-attr-reflection.html
index f773e671e1..7f17f342e9 100644
--- a/test/html/prop-attr-reflection.html
+++ b/test/html/prop-attr-reflection.html
@@ -1,80 +1,97 @@
-<!doctype html>
-<html>
-  <head>
-    <title>publish attributes</title>
-    <script src="../../polymer.js"></script>
-    <script src="../../tools/test/htmltest.js"></script>
-    <script src="../../node_modules/chai/chai.js"></script>
-  </head>
-  <body>
-
-    <x-foo></x-foo>
-    <polymer-element name="x-foo" attributes="foo baz">
-      <script>
-        Polymer('x-foo');
-      </script>
-    </polymer-element>
-
-    <x-bar></x-bar>
-    <polymer-element name="x-bar" extends="x-foo">
-      <script>
-        Polymer('x-bar', {
-          publish: {
-            zot: 3,
-            zim: false,
-            str: 'str',
-            obj: null
-          }
-        });
-      </script>
-    </polymer-element>
-
-  <script>
-      var assert = chai.assert;
-      document.addEventListener('WebComponentsReady', function() {
-        //
-        var xfoo = document.querySelector('x-foo');
-        xfoo.foo = 5;
-        Platform.flush();
-        Platform.endOfMicrotask(function() {
-          assert.equal(String(xfoo.foo), xfoo.getAttribute('foo'), 'attribute reflects property as string');
-          xfoo.setAttribute('foo', '27');
-          assert.equal(xfoo.foo, xfoo.getAttribute('foo'), 'property reflects attribute');
-          //
-          xfoo.baz = 'Hello';
-          Platform.flush();
-          Platform.endOfMicrotask(function() {
-            assert.equal(xfoo.baz, xfoo.getAttribute('baz'), 'attribute reflects property');
-            //
-            var xbar = document.querySelector('x-bar');
-            //
-            xbar.foo = 'foo!';
-            xbar.zot = 27;
-            xbar.zim = true;
-            xbar.str = 'str!';
-            xbar.obj = {hello: 'world'};
-            Platform.flush();
-            setTimeout(function() {
-              assert.equal(xbar.foo, xbar.getAttribute('foo'), 'inherited published property is reflected');
-              assert.equal(String(xbar.zot), xbar.getAttribute('zot'), 'attribute reflects property as number');
-              assert.equal(String(xbar.zim), xbar.getAttribute('zim'), 'attribute reflects property as boolean');
-              assert.equal(xbar.str, xbar.getAttribute('str'), 'attribute reflects property as published string');
-              assert.isFalse(xbar.hasAttribute('obj'), 'attribute does not reflect object property');
-              xbar.setAttribute('foo', 'foo!!');
-              xbar.setAttribute('zot', 54);
-              xbar.setAttribute('zim', 'false');
-              xbar.setAttribute('str', 'str!!');
-              xbar.setAttribute('obj', "{'hello': 'world'}");
-              assert.equal(xbar.foo, xbar.getAttribute('foo'), 'property reflects attribute as string');
-              assert.equal(xbar.zot, 54, 'property reflects attribute as number');
-              assert.equal(xbar.zim, false, 'property reflects attribute as boolean');
-              assert.equal(xbar.str, 'str!!', 'property reflects attribute as published string');
-              assert.deepEqual(xbar.obj, {hello: 'world'}, 'property reflects attribute as object');
-              done();
-            });  
-          });
-        });
-      });
-    </script>
-  </body>
-</html>
+<!doctype html>
+<html>
+  <head>
+    <title>publish attributes</title>
+    <script src="../../polymer.js"></script>
+    <script src="../../tools/test/htmltest.js"></script>
+    <script src="../../node_modules/chai/chai.js"></script>
+  </head>
+  <body>
+
+    <x-foo></x-foo>
+    <polymer-element name="x-foo" attributes="foo baz">
+      <script>
+        Polymer('x-foo');
+      </script>
+    </polymer-element>
+
+    <x-bar></x-bar>
+    <polymer-element name="x-bar" extends="x-foo" attributes="zot zim str obj">
+      <script>
+        Polymer('x-bar', {
+          zot: 3,
+          zim: false,
+          str: 'str',
+          obj: null
+        });
+      </script>
+    </polymer-element>
+    
+    <x-compose></x-compose>
+    <polymer-element name="x-compose">
+      <template>
+        <x-bar id="bar" zim="{{zim}}"></x-bar>
+      </template>
+      <script>
+        Polymer('x-compose', {
+          zim: false
+        });
+      </script>
+    </polymer-element>
+
+  <script>
+      var assert = chai.assert;
+      document.addEventListener('WebComponentsReady', function() {
+        var xcompose = document.querySelector('x-compose');
+        var xfoo = document.querySelector('x-foo');
+        xfoo.foo = 5;
+        Platform.flush();
+        Platform.endOfMicrotask(function() {
+          assert.isFalse(xcompose.$.bar.hasAttribute('zim'), 'attribute bound to property updates when binding is made');
+          
+          assert.equal(String(xfoo.foo), xfoo.getAttribute('foo'), 'attribute reflects property as string');
+          xfoo.setAttribute('foo', '27');
+          assert.equal(xfoo.foo, xfoo.getAttribute('foo'), 'property reflects attribute');
+          //
+          xfoo.baz = 'Hello';
+          Platform.flush();
+          Platform.endOfMicrotask(function() {
+            assert.equal(xfoo.baz, xfoo.getAttribute('baz'), 'attribute reflects property');
+            //
+            var xbar = document.querySelector('x-bar');
+            //
+            xbar.foo = 'foo!';
+            xbar.zot = 27;
+            xbar.zim = true;
+            xbar.str = 'str!';
+            xbar.obj = {hello: 'world'};
+            Platform.flush();
+            Platform.endOfMicrotask(function() {
+              assert.equal(xbar.foo, xbar.getAttribute('foo'), 'inherited published property is reflected');
+              assert.equal(String(xbar.zot), xbar.getAttribute('zot'), 'attribute reflects property as number');
+              assert.equal('', xbar.getAttribute('zim'), 'attribute reflects true valued boolean property as having attribute');
+              assert.equal(xbar.str, xbar.getAttribute('str'), 'attribute reflects property as published string');
+              assert.isFalse(xbar.hasAttribute('obj'), 'attribute does not reflect object property');
+              xbar.setAttribute('foo', 'foo!!');
+              xbar.setAttribute('zot', 54);
+              xbar.setAttribute('zim', 'false');
+              xbar.setAttribute('str', 'str!!');
+              xbar.setAttribute('obj', "{'hello': 'world'}");
+              assert.equal(xbar.foo, xbar.getAttribute('foo'), 'property reflects attribute as string');
+              assert.equal(xbar.zot, 54, 'property reflects attribute as number');
+              assert.equal(xbar.zim, false, 'property reflects attribute as boolean');
+              assert.equal(xbar.str, 'str!!', 'property reflects attribute as published string');
+              assert.deepEqual(xbar.obj, {hello: 'world'}, 'property reflects attribute as object');
+              xbar.zim = false;
+              Platform.flush();
+              Platform.endOfMicrotask(function() {
+                assert.isFalse(xbar.hasAttribute('zim'), 'attribute reflects false valued boolean property as NOT having attribute');
+                done();
+              });
+            });  
+          });
+        });
+      });
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>